The Best Fleece Jackets of 2024

Patagonia’s R1 line has been an absolute staple in the outdoor industry for years, and sort of set the standard for lightweight, performance-oriented fleece layers. The R1 Air ($179) offers even greater breathability and mobility given its unique zig-zag pattern of hollow fiber yarns.

This construction does a fantastic job of trapping heat during cold adventures, while also providing stellar ventilation when you pick up the pace. While the R1 Air is a little more comfortable and breathable than something like the TechFace hoodie, this comes at a slight cost of durability. We found that the R1 Air accrued holes and tears easier than the TechFace during extended use, and we used it more as a midlayer than an outer layer.

We think this jacket shines as a breathable, extremely comfortable fleece for long-distance thru-hiking or lightweight alpine missions. At 12.9 ounces, it packs slightly lighter than the TechFace and many similar jackets and offers a high warmth-to-weight ratio.

One of our reviewers recently put the R1 Air to the test on thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail, using this as his primary midlayer. From week-long freezing rain storms to chilly Sierra climbs, it kept him toasty yet ventilated, and was a perfect layer for all sorts of weather and temps.

While you lose a slight amount of durability, the extra weight savings, breathability, and added comfort make the R1 Air a great addition to Patagonia’s already stellar performance-oriented R series. For performance, we’re confident this is the best fleece jacket on the market.

Check out our full GearJunkie Review on the R1 Air for more info.

This full-zip fleece ($75) is a simple, lightweight layer for casual walks, everyday errands, and workdays as well as outdoor activities from backcountry and resort skiing to hiking. Without a hood, it fits smoothly beneath an outer jacket as a functional midlayer.

The YKK zippers are high-quality, including the two hand pocket closures. And the flat seams help create a close fit. When zipped up, the fleece keeps the neck hugged and protected.

As an untreated polyester fabric, this fleece retains a fair amount of warmth and breathability yet doesn’t block piercing wind, snow, or raindrops.

For a well-contoured and non-technical midlayer, this fleece jacket can’t be beat (especially at its price point). Plus, this jacket offers one of the most inclusive size ranges with small through 5XL sizes available for the men’s fleece and XS through 5XL for the women’s fleece.

The Patagonia R1 TechFace ($219) can be seen pretty much anywhere serious mountain athletes are getting after it. This technical hooded zip-up is a lightweight, soft fleece that’s thoroughly armored.

The snag-free synthetic material is treated with durable water repellent (DWR), allowing precipitation to drip off while being air-permeable yet capable of barricading a breeze.

While this layer isn’t a burly shield for blizzards or rainstorms by itself, it works as an outer layer for variable weather and as a sleek piece beneath a jacket. To manage a range of conditions, the double-weave fabric is stretchy and breathable.

One of the authors of this guide used the TechFace as his primary midlayer for his thru-hikes of the Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail. It kept him cozy and warm from snowy whiteouts in the San Juans, to endless days of rain through the mid-Atlantic. Paired with a lightweight rain jacket and synthetic puffy, he considers this one of the best fleece jackets for long journeys that require versatile layers.

Two hand pockets with zip closures are smartly placed a few inches above the hem, allowing space for a climbing harness. An internal chest pocket with a streamlined zipper is a great stowaway for an ID or credit card.

The hood is spacious enough to fit over a helmet yet contoured to sandwich beneath one, too. Plus, the hood has an integrated laminated visor to help prevent obstruction of vision. The stretch-knit cuffs aren’t bulky. Overall, this layer is comfortable and articulates well during big-movement activities from skinning to climbing.

As a breathable jacket, this isn’t the warmest fleece on the list, but excels as an integral, lightweight part of your layering system on high-output adventures in the mountains.

This is one of those jackets that gets more complicated and awesome the longer you look at it. How many different types and densities of fabric can you spot? Slide it on for the first time and it may feel like any other technical midlayer, but take this baby on a ride through the mountains and you’ll experience the sheer amount of technology Rab threw into it. This is definitely a premium fleece jacket.

The Ascendor Summit Hoody ($200) quickly became our go-to active fleece layer for brisk winter climbing trips or fast and light alpine missions — and for good reason. Clocking in at a scant 11.6 ounces, it delivers a seemingly perfect balance between breathability, weather protection, and warmth in a lightweight, compressible package.

Body-mapped fabric seems to be the standard in high-end versatile layers these days, and the Ascender Summit Hoody sure does deliver in this department. The upper torso and top of the arms are protected with windproof Pertex Quantum Air overlays and lined with silky smooth brush mesh. This is a super light material that traps heat around the core with its high loft.

The lower torso, down the sides of the underarm, and the entire back panel are fitted with the unique Thermic G gridded fleece. This material allows for maximum mobility and ventilation along parts of the body that need it most, while still retaining precious heat. This concoction of fabrics shines on cold, windy adventures where breathability is needed while active, but warmth and protection are required while static.

It’s difficult to find cons to this jacket, but our first impressions did have us thinking that the Pertex Quantum Air overlays were somewhat loud and crinkly while moving around. This diminished with use, and wasn’t too big of a deal. Additionally, while we understand why Rab left them off, we found ourselves wishing for handwarmer pockets on several chilly escapades when wearing this as a standalone layer.

If maximum comfort and insulation is what you’re after, it’s probably best to look elsewhere. However, for speedy forays in the alpine where adequate warmth but reliable breathability is needed, the Ascendor Summit Hoody is one of the best options on the market.

Though it doesn’t win any awards in the breathability, mobility, or layering department, few jackets can compete with the time-tested legacy of The North Face Denali 2 ($180). While this fleece has become a staple in hipster coffee shops and college campuses for its stylish design and cozy warmth, it’s far from just a casual fashion statement.

The Denali has a rich history of being worn on notable first ascents (such as Todd Skinner’s first free ascent of Yosemite’s Salathé Wall in 1988) and groundbreaking alpine expeditions (like Conrad Anker’s winter ascent of Nepal’s Ama Dablam in 1990) since its original release in 1988. The abrasion patches on the shoulders and elbows, weather resistance, and next-to-skin comfort made this a top midlayer pick for mountain athletes at the time.

While lighter, comparably warm fleece jackets now flood the market, the new reswizzled Denali 2 carries the torch, and makes this alpine classic still relevant to this day. It remains a symbol of exploration and adventure.

Burley Polartec 300 series fleece, with 100% recycled fibers, seals in warmth, while the two-ply nylon overlays on the chest, elbows, and shoulders boost weather resistance and durability. Two chest pockets and deep handwarmer pockets help with organization, and a drawstring cinched hem and elasticated cuffs help retain heat. All the reinforcement and extras do add up though, and the Denali 2 tips the scales at around 25 ounces, making this one of the heavier options on the list.

Though this still stands as a solid adventure layer, with all the technical fleeces out there, the Denali 2 is probably best suited as a standalone jacket for casual wear in chilly temps. Its above-average wind and rain resistance, coupled with its stellar warmth, makes this one of the better all-weather fleeces you can buy.

For essentially any adventure, climate, or terrain you find yourself in, Patagonia has a fleece jacket that would fit perfectly with your layering system.

Falling somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between purely performance pieces (like their R1 lineup), and beefy comfort (like their Synchilla Snap-T), the Better Sweater ($159) is a middle-of-the-road, stylish jacket that can be used for light active wear, or just to look good around town.

Its recycled polyester knit-fleece fabric offers cozy next-to-skin comfort, and adequate warmth for shoulder season adventures, or as one of your layers for colder missions in the mountains. We did find it to offer subpar wind resistance compared to some similar fleeces.

Additionally, while the raglan sleeves used are comfortable, they are somewhat tight along the arms, limiting the layers you can add underneath or the ability to roll the sleeves up much to dump heat.

We do love the versatility of this jacket though, and it looks equally great on an alpine ascent, or while catching up with a friend over coffee. While it isn’t as warm or breathable as some of the other Patagonia offerings, we think it’s one of the best fleece jackets for outdoor enthusiasts who want a solid crossover piece that can be worn for a multitude of different adventures.

This unassuming, featherlight layer got way more love than we were expecting during our testing period, and we found ourselves reaching for it more than most for spontaneous adventures in the backcountry. The ultralight Coefficient LT Hybrid Hoody ($180) from Black Diamond disappears in a pack, and strikes a rare balance between warmth and breathability for speedy, high-output missions in the mountains.

This jacket is definitely catered toward the active mountain athlete. A thin Primaloft insulated woven front panel offers warmth around the core, and Polartec Power Grid fleece fabric along the back and arms boosts breathability and cuts weight. This hybrid design makes the jacket a top pick for technical alpine missions where you primarily need protection and warmth while active.

Gusseted underarms, thumb-loops, and a snug, under-helmet hood had us loving the Coefficient while rock climbing, as it moves with your body effortlessly, and doesn’t constrict at all. The gridded fleece pattern wicks moisture like a champ, and we felt quite comfortable while running hard, or cranking up steep hills with this on.

As one of the lighter jackets we tested, the Coefficient doesn’t offer tons of warmth while static, so it’s best worn as an element of a layering system for slower jaunts, or an outer layer while charging hard. For fast-paced adventures in the backcountry, it’s hard to beat this technical fleece.

We have covered a couple of softshell-like fleece jackets in the creation of this guide, but none quite as formidable as the Helly Hansen Cascade Shield Jacket ($165). Truly blurring the line between the two categories, this unique layer boasts similar protection and durability as its softshell counterparts, with the stretchy, soft comfort of a fleece jacket. This is the R1 TechFace’s older sibling — and it brings some serious gumption to the table.

We put this jacket through more type-2 fun than most during our testing period, keen on determining its limits. Burly bushwhacks riddled with briers, heinous romps up granite chimneys, and long days on the open trail — this layer saw it all and performed with flying colors. Its tough, smooth polyester face fabric resists tears and abrasion, and the soft grid back fleece provides stellar next-to-skin comfort and a noticeable boost in breathability. Add phenomenal mobility and fit into the mix, and you have one heck of a mountain-ready shell.

The Cascade Shield also features one of the most robust DWR coatings we’ve seen on a fleece. This isn’t something we find particularly necessary on a fleece jacket, but it did come in handy during a handful of surprise showers during our testing period.

Despite its water-resistant nature, it definitely isn’t the warmest jacket we tested. Pair it with a rainjacket or even a thin windbreaker, though, and you can weather some tempestuous conditions. That said, its similarity to a softshell affords it solid wind resistance as a standalone layer, without sacrificing breathability.

We appreciate the contoured hood with a slightly flat brim, which sits nicely over a hat — but does feel a bit floppy if you aren’t wearing one. The warmth it delivers is about average for a grid-back fleece, and you don’t want to be caught in freezing conditions with this as your only option. If your objective has you cranking hard and building up a sweat in chilly temps, though, this layer will move and breathe with you every step of the way.

At just over a pound, we wish it was a smidge lighter, but the comfort and thoughtful features atone for this slight con. Burly elastic at the cuffs and hood, and a drawcord at the hem add ounces, but play key roles in sealing in warmth. The tall zippered hand pockets sit above the hip and contribute to its higher scale reading, but are quite helpful when wearing a harness or backpack waist belt.

Catered more for alpinists who need an extra bump in protection and weather resistance, the Cascade Shield is a specialized layer that’s more at home on technical missions in the mountains, than the stylish frontcountry. Its four-way stretch, breathable grid design, and stalwart face fabric make this a durable, beefy barrier against anything the backcountry throws your way.

“Embrace the Cozy” is SD’s first description of this jacket — and we’re finding it difficult to drum up a better tagline. This immediately became the first fleece our author grabbed for just about any adventure or casual outing over several months of testing…whenever he could steal it back from his girlfriend. They both liked it so much that she got herself an identical white Sierra Designs Hale Snap Pullover ($100), and now they look like matching marshmallows bopping around town.

We often find that a fleece can look mega comfy on the outside while having an underwhelming interior fabric. The Hale Snap does not follow suit. The double-sided shearling fleece is not as lofty on the inside but has one of the smoothest next-to-skin feels of any fleece we’ve donned. After months of wear and several wash cycles, the fabric stayed plush and indescribably cozy.

We love the loose — but not too loose — silhouette of the Hale. This makes it a prime pick for lounging all day with a book by the river or fireside hangs, but it has just enough gumption and durability for wearing it on light adventures. The fit is contoured enough to not get in your way while hiking or even bouldering, and Y-joint sleeves allow for more room in the arms and shoulders, therefore helping boost mobility.

An oversized kangaroo front pocket and a chest snap pocket keep your hands toasty and the essentials close by. Aside from that, the feature set is pretty minimal. Elesatication at the cuff and hems help seal in warmth, but the lack of a cinch cord allows strong gusts to worm their way through.

This fleece would be great for the serial fireside snuggler who wants an incredibly comfortable jacket with frontcountry style and a bit of backcountry performance. It’s not the lightest, most packable layer on the list. But for top-shelf, luxurious fluff at a reasonable price — the Sierra Designs Hale Snap Pullover punches well above its weight.

The Alpenwurx ($159) is the type of fleece you can almost guarantee will elicit those “whoa, sweet jacket” comments the moment you walk in the room. With a burley sherpa trucker look, reinforced suede shoulder and elbow patches, and an overall vintage feel, this KÜHL staple adds a stylish lumberjack vibe to your wardrobe.

Made with 400 gsm fabric, the Alpenwurx is one of the warmest (and heaviest) jackets in this review, and boasts top-notch durability. Great for cold bushwhacks in dense underbrush, or rough scrambles over scree slopes, you can feel comfortable putting it through a good deal of torture.

Ultra-soft polyester provides stellar next-to-skin comfort, and fluffy berber fleece lines the collar, making this one of our favorite heavyweight jackets to wear while lounging around the fire, or curling up in our tents at the end of a long day. You won’t want to take this thing off. Two gigantic handwarmer pockets, a chest pocket, and thumb loops contribute to its usability, and articulated sleeves afford broad range of motion.

For intense activity where breathability and maximum mobility are a concern, it would be best to look elsewhere. But if stylish, mega-warm durability for rugged adventures is what you’re after, KÜHL’s Alpenwurx fits the bill perfectly.

Comfy, technical, performance fleeces seem to be making a surge in today’s market — and we aren’t sad about it. The Vigor Hoodie ($120) is no slouch in this department and offers another stellar option for lightweight adventures where top-notch thermo-regulation is a must.

The Vigor Hoodie is a solid pick as a midlayer for colder alpine trips, or a standalone outer layer for chilly, shoulder season hikes. The insulating, wicking grid back fleece is fitted with ActiveTemp technology that allegedly “self-adjusts depending on your level of exertion.” We did find that as we changed our level of output in this jacket, the fabric seemed to keep us appropriately cool or warm, and was a joy to wear on start-stop missions.

We like the simple, sleek look of the Vigor Hoodie, and thoughtful touches such as thumb loops and a snug-fitting hood contribute to its usability. It’s not the warmest jacket, so probably isn’t a great standalone option for particularly chilly ventures. We also felt that the fit was a bit loose overall, and we found ourselves wishing for a more athletic cut.

In short, the Vigor Hoodie is an affordable, extremely comfortable fleece jacket that is a great option for those who need a technical, high-performance layer at a more approachable price point.

When you see that bird, you know it’s gonna be cozy. After testing an absurd amount of jackets, it takes a lot to “wow” us when donning a fleece, but the Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody ($200) felt like a soft hug right out of the box. This may be the crème de la crème of comfort.

Polartec Power Stretch Pro fabric and a brushed line interior join forces in this technical midlayer to deliver stellar warmth and maximum mobility. This is great for casual outdoor use — like light hiking, climbing, or belaying — but the Kyanite AR can often be too warm for intense activity, and isn’t the most breathable jacket out there.

The athletic fit and no-lift gusseted underarms of this piece contribute to its overall comfort. It seems to contour perfectly with your body while hopping over downed trees or navigating a tricky boulder problem, and the streamlined design makes layering a breeze.

This jacket does an adequate job of holding off weather, but didn’t perform as well as others in our test. The tight weave of the fabric provides some wind resistance, but when it really picked up we found ourselves quickly needing to throw on a windbreaker or rain jacket. It also doesn’t have thumb loops, which we found ourselves wishing for on several occasions.

At around 15 ounces for a men’s medium, the Kyanite leans toward the heavier end of the spectrum, but offers enough warmth to make up for it. This isn’t the most packable, lightweight jacket for fast backpacking missions, so if ultralight minimalism is what you’re after, this may not be the one. However, as a toasty, crazy comfortable fleece for backcountry use and frontcountry style alike, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option.

Something subtle about KÜHL products gives its seemingly ordinary jackets a stylish, premium touch. It’s hard to put a finger on it, but the Interceptr ($139) is a prime example of this.

A close-cut fit, ventilated Kashmira side panels, and hidden thumb loops make this a fine choice for casual backcountry use, with a muted aesthetic for the front country. While it would be better to find a more technical midlayer for purely active use, the Interceptr is no slouch on the trail.

The Alfpaca Gold performance fleece used in this jacket provides noticeable next-to-skin comfort, and though it’s not as warm as jackets like KÜHL’s Alpenwurx, it delivers solid heat for how packable it is. While not a purely athletic fit, it has a form-fitting design, making this an easy jacket to layer with. It’s not quite as breathable as comparable models like Patagonia’s Better Sweater, but it does offer adequate ventilation during light activity, and keeps you nice and toasty when stopped.

If you’re looking for a high-performance fleece jacket for demanding alpine summits, this probably isn’t the one for you. However, as a durable, stylish crossover piece that looks equally good in the mountains and around town, the Interceptr is hard to beat.

The testers at GearJunkie are undeniably Patagoniacs (mega Patagonia enthusiasts), but we’d like to think the Synchilla ($139) objectively epitomizes retro outdoor style like nothing else on the market. Since 1985, their Synchilla line has been a hallmark of cozy fleeces, and offered one of the most technical insulations when it was released.

While loads of competitors for the 100% recycled Synchilla fleece used in the jacket now flood the market, it has retained its classic silhouette and reliable functionality over the years. It’s still an all-time favorite for casual or die-hard adventurers alike.

The streamlined design of the jacket — a four-button closure and a single, low-profile chest pocket — makes this a great crossover piece. Equally at home in the woods or in civilization, its moisture-wicking polyester fleece performs well on outdoor missions, while the slimmed-down profile doesn’t scream “technical mountain man” as you run errands downtown.

The Synchilla Snap-T comes in a regular and lightweight model. We tend to prefer the lightweight option, as the 13.2-ounce weight makes it a more viable option for chucking in our bag on adventures.

The cuffs and hem of the jacket have spandex trim which helps to seal in warmth and hug you a little closer. While it’s not known for its breathability, we found ourselves pulling hard on climbing projects this winter in the Synchilla, and will regularly hike around with it in mild temps. Though you can use it for active wear, this jacket is best suited for wearing around the fire with a hot cider after shredding hard in the mountains. The next-to-skin comfort and warmth it provides are pretty stellar.

The cons? Well, it’s about as simple as it gets in the design department. There are no handwarmer pockets, adjustable sinch cords, or stretchy, breathable side panels to boast of, but this rudimentary profile is largely what makes it so classic (and competitively lightweight). It’s also quite spacious and boxy, which works well to layer with, but isn’t the most flattering, form-fitting option around.

Despite these gripes, it’s impossible to write a guide like this without mentioning the time-tested Synchilla Snap-T. Its top-shelf comfort, sleek look, and rich legacy make this a shoo-in for the fleece jacket hall of fame.

Who remembers Mountain Hardwear’s Monkey Man Fleece? We know — we miss it too. While it doesn’t hold the same “cult-classic” allure (or high loft) as that legendary coat, many are calling this cozy layer its closest successor. The Polartec Power Grid Full Zip Fleece ($160) has been causing a stir in the outdoor community, and after testing it all over the country for a few months, we understand why.

We dangled off tiny crimps hundreds of feet in the air, scrambled across loose scree in the alpine, cruised mellow singletrack, and bopped around town wearing this jacket, and we’re yet to find a situation it doesn’t perform well in. It has an attractive, somewhat stylish snug fit, without being too “athletic” and close cut to layer underneath. It does fit a tad large, though, so make an effort to try it on in-store before settling on a size.

Similar to Patagonia’s R1 TechFace above, it has a hard-backed fleece on the outside, and a soft grid-fleece pattern underneath, boosting durability while prioritizing breathability on high-output activities. Polartec Power Grid fabric has been a fan favorite amongst adventurers for a while, as its exceptional moisture-wicking abilities, breathability, and thermal efficiency make it perfect for demanding outdoor missions.

We found that this fleece moved with us well while contorting our bodies on technical rock climbs, or vaulting over blowdowns on trail. Discrete thumb loops are attached to an ergonomically shaped stretch-knit fabric panel at the cuff, which hugs the hand well, and pulls the sleeves in tight along your arms. Elasticated cuffs, hem, and hood help seal in warmth, but we do wish there was a cinch cord at the hem or hood to help with the process.

We experienced similar warmth and breathability as we do with our R1 TechFace, but the Polartec Power Grid tips the scales at a couple of ounces more. It’s not necessarily a “heavy” jacket but isn’t as streamlined and packable as others on this list.

In short, this fleece gave us an overall positive impression during our testing period. A few small quibbles we have kept it from snagging our top spot, but we still grab this hardworking layer for just about any adventure we drum up.